Baler having pre-compression lid stops and method of operation

Abstract

A baler having pre-compression lid stops and method of operation where stops located on a pre-compression lid prevent rotation of the pre-compression lid into the pre-crush chamber to prevent impingement of a gatherer ram with the pre-compression lid.

It is claimed:  
     
       1. A baler for sequenced baling operation of materials such as waste cardboard, the baler comprising: 
       a. an upper hopper segment for receiving uncompacted material to be baled;  
       b. a lower hopper segment, beneath the upper hopper segment, said lower hopper segment for receiving material to be baled from the upper hopper segment;  
       c. a pre-crush chamber beneath the lower hopper segment;  
       d. a pre-compression lid pivotally secured with respect to the lower hopper segment to rotate through the lower hopper segment so as to force material to be baled from within the lower hopper segment into the pre-crush chamber, said pre-compression lid being oriented to function as a top for the pre-crush chamber in a closed position and to allow material to be baled to enter the pre-crush chamber in an open;  
       e. a hydraulic cylinder actuator coupled to the pre-compression lid for moving the pre-compression lid between the open and closed positions;  
       f. at least one pre-compression lid stop mounted on the pre-compression lid and movable therewith; and,  
       g. an angled fixed stop against which the at least one pre-compression lid stop bears when the pre-compression lid is in the closed position, whereby movement of the pre-compression lid into the pre-crush chamber is prevented; and,  
       h. wherein the at least one pre-compression lid stop is adjustable and includes a shim and at least one mounting bracket having a curved edge.  
     
     
       2. The baler of  claim 1 , wherein the curved edge of the at least one mounting bracket of the adjustable at least one pre-compression lid stop is an upper edge. 
     
     
       3. The baler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one mounting bracket having the upper curved edge carries a mounting bar secured thereto. 
     
     
       4. The baler of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting bar carries a contact bar. 
     
     
       5. The baler of  claim 4 , wherein the shim is interposed between the mounting bar and the contact bar. 
     
     
       6. The baler of  claim 4 , wherein the contact bar is secured to the mounting bar by at least one hardware assembly. 
     
     
       7. The baler of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one hardware assembly includes a bolt, a nut, and a lock washer. 
     
     
       8. The baler of  claim 7 , wherein the bolt has a head and the head is recessed within the contact bar. 
     
     
       9. The baler of  claim 5 , wherein the shim has a body hole to pass a bolt. 
     
     
       10. The baler of  claim 1 , wherein the shim is of suitable thickness to prevent the pre-compression lid from entering the pre-crush chamber. 
     
     
       11. The baler of  claim 1 , further comprising a wiper bar to prevent the pre-compression lid from dragging material out of the upper hopper segment. 
     
     
       12. The baler of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pre-compression lid stop is one of a pair of pre-compression lid stops. 
     
     
       13. The baler of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting bracket having a curved edge is one of a pair of mounting brackets having curved edges. 
     
     
       14. The baler of  claim 1 , further comprising a gatherer ram, the gatherer ram having a path through the pre-crush chamber, and wherein the at least one pre-compression lid stop prevents rotation of the pre-compression lid into the path of the gatherer ram. 
     
     
       15. The baler of  claim 14 , wherein the gatherer ram is hydraulically driven. 
     
     
       16. The baler of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a. a bale chamber adjacent to the pre-crush chamber;  
       b. a bale door on the bale chamber; and,  
       c. an ejector ram arranged to eject a bale of material from the bale chamber through the bale door.